On my blog this year I have tried to write a post at least once a week as my main challenge for the year. So far so good. But I realized that if I can update my blog weekly then maybe I should also try taking a little more time to connect with my friends on Facebook.
Over the years I have sorely neglected my FB page and by extension my friends. I don't think I've changed my profile picture, or even added any new pictures in over a year. Sometimes I've even been too lazy (or alternately shy) to "like" a post, much less comment on it. And yet FB has become one of the few ways to keep in touch with my friends who are now mostly scattered all over the country.
I do believe in the saying that "In order to have a friend you must first be one".
I don't want to lose my friends or have them think I don't care. I also
don't want them to feel as if they are the only ones making an effort in
the friendship.
So, to that point I have stepped up my "likes" on other people's posts as well as tried to comment more. I have also attempted to update my own status at appropriate opportunities. These are all baby steps of course, but every little bit helps, I hope.
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Is There Life After Homework?
This week has been busy. My brain is absolutely fried. I haven't gone to bed before 2AM any day this week.
I used to take six classes a semester all the time for my first degree, now I'm taking four classes and I never, never remember being so overloaded with homework. Something must have happened to college in between then and now.
Oddly when I think of how busy and sleep-deprived I'll be as a single parent I say bring it on, but when it comes to homework and studying - not so much.
I used to take six classes a semester all the time for my first degree, now I'm taking four classes and I never, never remember being so overloaded with homework. Something must have happened to college in between then and now.
Oddly when I think of how busy and sleep-deprived I'll be as a single parent I say bring it on, but when it comes to homework and studying - not so much.
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Mini Project
I'm trying to make the best of the long amount of time I currently have between now and when I can hopefully begin TTC. Also, my hope for this year was to finish projects I've been doing, and start some projects I've been meaning to do. As I've said in previous posts, I continue to work on my beaded scarf, but recently I found some time to do another project I've really wanted to do.
This one is a garbage bag holder for my car. I try to keep my car fairly clean but there are times when I've just really needed a designated place to put trash. So, one day I happened upon a really great online tutorial for making one.
I already had coordinating fabric leftover from another project, plus matching thread, and even a button originally bought for scrapbooking.
The only thing I actually needed to buy was the really stiff interfacing that the tutorial calls for, which I was able to get on sale!
The sewing was fairly simple once I read through all the directions (the pictures in the tutorial don't always match exactly what the directions are telling you to do).
The binding is supposed to be a third coordinating fabric but I didn't have a third one that matched so I just used the lining fabric again. It looks great on the outside but it made it a little harder to sew on the inside.
For the binding you can sew the inner part with the machine if you don't mind the thread showing on the other side, or you can hand sew it. I elected to hand sew that part because my thread was brown and would have shown up easily on the outer fabric.
I changed the handle directions a little by sewing the fabric right sides together leaving the ends open and then I turned it right-side out, ironed it, and hand sewed the ends. This way the thread didn't show for most of the handle. Then I sewed the handle to the bag and secured it by sewing the button on.
From there I followed the rest of the directions and I was done!
Some things I've noted about this project:
This one is a garbage bag holder for my car. I try to keep my car fairly clean but there are times when I've just really needed a designated place to put trash. So, one day I happened upon a really great online tutorial for making one.
I already had coordinating fabric leftover from another project, plus matching thread, and even a button originally bought for scrapbooking.
 |
| Fabric pieces after cutting |
The only thing I actually needed to buy was the really stiff interfacing that the tutorial calls for, which I was able to get on sale!
The sewing was fairly simple once I read through all the directions (the pictures in the tutorial don't always match exactly what the directions are telling you to do).
 |
| The pins show where the binding meets the inner fabric |
The binding is supposed to be a third coordinating fabric but I didn't have a third one that matched so I just used the lining fabric again. It looks great on the outside but it made it a little harder to sew on the inside.
For the binding you can sew the inner part with the machine if you don't mind the thread showing on the other side, or you can hand sew it. I elected to hand sew that part because my thread was brown and would have shown up easily on the outer fabric.
I changed the handle directions a little by sewing the fabric right sides together leaving the ends open and then I turned it right-side out, ironed it, and hand sewed the ends. This way the thread didn't show for most of the handle. Then I sewed the handle to the bag and secured it by sewing the button on.
From there I followed the rest of the directions and I was done!
Some things I've noted about this project:- All in all it took me about half a day and would have gone faster if I had machine-sewed the binding.
- The bag is actually bigger than it looks in the pictures and should hold a decent amount of trash.
- I didn't realize how long the handle would turn out to be, and it means my trash bag holder just sits on the floor instead of hanging, but at least I have a lot of flexibility to move the shifter.
- It's hard to tell in the picture below, but there is a plastic bag inside that folds over the interfacing, which I can remove and replace as needed (the tutorial goes over this).
 |
| Now I just need to actually wash, vacuum, and clean my car! |
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Timeline to TTC
Writing this timeline out has me incredibly depressed.
Finishing my Associates will take another year. That puts me at age 31 right before graduation. In order to get a decent-paying job I need a Bachelors. This will take me another two years if they accept all my Associates classes for transfer. That puts me at age 33 right before graduation. Then I need to find a job and hope it is one I like with a good company that pays a decent starting wage. Then I need to wait through any probationary period at the job and also calculate bills versus the cost of TTC. That puts me at age ?? for a start time. Another three years of waiting at the very least.
In my head I've gone over all the different options for shortening this timeline and, few as they are, I can find none that are very feasible. Short of a miracle, or winning the lottery, all the options seem to be a constant fight of time versus money.
I hate feeling so helpless
Finishing my Associates will take another year. That puts me at age 31 right before graduation. In order to get a decent-paying job I need a Bachelors. This will take me another two years if they accept all my Associates classes for transfer. That puts me at age 33 right before graduation. Then I need to find a job and hope it is one I like with a good company that pays a decent starting wage. Then I need to wait through any probationary period at the job and also calculate bills versus the cost of TTC. That puts me at age ?? for a start time. Another three years of waiting at the very least.
In my head I've gone over all the different options for shortening this timeline and, few as they are, I can find none that are very feasible. Short of a miracle, or winning the lottery, all the options seem to be a constant fight of time versus money.
I hate feeling so helpless
Monday, March 3, 2014
Knitting Project Update - Progress!
Okay, last time I left off I was getting frustrated and turning to YouTube for help. I'm happy to say that I did not have to quit on February 1st as intended because I finally made it past the casting on and past the first row. The YouTube videos were incredibly helpful for figuring out how the beads were to be incorporated and once I got beyond the first few rows I was well on my way! I've even gotten the hang of knitting on such a small scale. Here is a picture of the rather inelegant beginning of the scarf (it's actually longer now and looks a lot better).
Anyway, it has become obvious to me that this scarf will take a long time to knit. I've got no problem with that, as long as I don't put the project down for too long. I find it is easy to do while watching TV which means it is the perfect companion to my blossoming TV addiction. But, I do need to work on some other projects. So, my plan is to begin the other projects and do them during my free time and I will continue to work on the scarf during TV time (yes, free time and TV time are separate, I would feel more shame for that if it weren't for the multitasking I'm doing).
 |
| After several hours of knitting! |
Anyway, it has become obvious to me that this scarf will take a long time to knit. I've got no problem with that, as long as I don't put the project down for too long. I find it is easy to do while watching TV which means it is the perfect companion to my blossoming TV addiction. But, I do need to work on some other projects. So, my plan is to begin the other projects and do them during my free time and I will continue to work on the scarf during TV time (yes, free time and TV time are separate, I would feel more shame for that if it weren't for the multitasking I'm doing).
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